Dr. Melissa Kong's areas of specialization are adult cardiology and cardiac electrophysiology (heart rhythm); she sees patients in East Palo Alto, CA, Redwood City, CA, and San Carlos, CA. Areas of particular interest for Dr. Kong include heart problems and electrophysiological (EP) study. Her hospital/clinic affiliations include Sutter Medical Network, Mills-Peninsula Health Services, and Palo Alto Foundation Medical Group. She is a graduate of Duke University School of Medicine and a graduate of Duke University Medical Center's residency program. She takes Health Net ELECT POS, United Healthcare Plans, and United Healthcare EPO, as well as other insurance carriers. She welcomes new patients.

Dr. Vivian Tsai works as a cardiologist in Fremont, CA and Palo Alto, CA. In her practice, Dr. Tsai focuses on heart problems. She is rated highly by her patients. Dr. Tsai is in-network for Health Net ELECT POS, United Healthcare Plans, and United Healthcare EPO, in addition to other insurance carriers. Before completing her residency at Stanford Hospital & Clinics, Dr. Tsai attended medical school at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. In addition to English, she speaks Mandarin. Dr. Tsai's hospital/clinic affiliations include Sutter Medical Network, Washington Hospital Healthcare System, and Palo Alto Foundation Medical Group. She is accepting new patients.

Dr. Kishor Avasarala works as a pediatric cardiologist. Dr. Avasarala attended Government Medical College, Bellary and Mahadevappa Rampure Medical College, Gulbarga and then went on to complete his residency at Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center and a hospital affiliated with New York Medical College. He has indicated that his clinical interests include heart problems. He is in-network for Anthem, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, and Valley Health Plan, in addition to other insurance carriers. He has received professional recognition including the following: San Francisco Super Doctors. In addition to English, Dr. Avasarala (or staff) speaks Spanish and Hindi. Dr. Avasarala is professionally affiliated with Sutter Medical Network, SEBMF - Diablo Division Community Provider Network, and Alta Bates Medical Group (ABMG). He is accepting new patients.

Dr. Nellis Smith's medical specialty is adult cardiology, nuclear cardiology, and cardiac electrophysiology (heart rhythm). Dr. Smith has received a 4.0 out of 5 star rating by his patients. These areas are among his clinical interests: heart problems and nuclear scan. He is professionally affiliated with Sutter Medical Network and Palo Alto Foundation Medical Group. He is an in-network provider for Health Net ELECT POS, United Healthcare Plans, and United Healthcare EPO, in addition to other insurance carriers. New patients are welcome to contact Dr. Smith's office for an appointment. After attending the University of Texas Medical Branch School of Medicine, he completed his residency training at Stanford University Medical Center.

Dr. Bruce Benedick's areas of specialization are adult cardiology, interventional cardiology, and nuclear cardiology; he sees patients in East Palo Alto, CA and Redwood City, CA. Dr. Benedick's clinical interests encompass heart problems, nuclear scan, and cardiac catheterization. He is affiliated with Sutter Medical Network and Palo Alto Foundation Medical Group. He attended medical school at the University of Utah School of Medicine. Dr. Benedick's training includes a residency program at a hospital affiliated with the University of Utah. He honors Health Net ELECT POS, United Healthcare Plans, and United Healthcare EPO, as well as other insurance carriers. New patients are welcome to contact his office for an appointment.

Dr. Lynette Lissin is an adult cardiology specialist. Dr. Lissin is a graduate of Harvard Medical School. Her training includes a residency program at Stanford University Medical Center. Areas of expertise for Dr. Lissin include heart problems. Dr. Lissin's average rating from her patients is 4.5 stars out of 5. She takes Health Net ELECT POS, United Healthcare Plans, and United Healthcare EPO, as well as other insurance carriers. Dr. Lissin (or staff) is conversant in Spanish and Russian. Dr. Lissin is professionally affiliated with Sutter Medical Network and Palo Alto Foundation Medical Group. She is accepting new patients.

Dr. Girish Narayan specializes in adult cardiology and cardiac electrophysiology (heart rhythm). He has a 4.5 out of 5 star average patient rating. His areas of expertise consist of heart problems and electrophysiological (EP) study. Dr. Narayan honors Health Net ELECT POS, United Healthcare Plans, and United Healthcare EPO, in addition to other insurance carriers. He attended medical school at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Narayan's residency was performed at New York-Presbyterian Hospital and Columbia University Medical Center. He speaks Tamil. Dr. Narayan is affiliated with Sutter Medical Network and Palo Alto Foundation Medical Group. He has an open panel.

Dr. George Lui's specialty is adult cardiology. Dr. Lui graduated from Yale School of Medicine and then he performed his residency at Brigham and Women's Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, and a hospital affiliated with Harvard Medical School. In his practice, Dr. Lui focuses on congenital heart disease. He is in-network for Anthem, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Valley Health Plan, and more. He speaks Spanish. Dr. Lui's professional affiliations include Sutter Medical Network, California Pacific Medical Center (CPMC), and Brown & Toland Physicians. His practice is open to new patients.

Dr. Gregory Engel's medical specialty is adult cardiology and cardiac electrophysiology (heart rhythm). His clinical interests include heart problems and electrophysiological (EP) study. His professional affiliations include Sutter Medical Network and Palo Alto Foundation Medical Group. Dr. Engel is a graduate of Stanford University School of Medicine. For his professional training, Dr. Engel completed a residency program at Stanford University Medical Center. Dr. Engel has received a 4.5 out of 5 star rating by his patients. Health Net ELECT POS, United Healthcare Plans, and United Healthcare EPO are among the insurance carriers that Dr. Engel accepts. Dr. Engel is open to new patients.

Dr. Aria Dibiase is a Palo Alto, CA physician who specializes in adult cardiology. Dr. Dibiase's areas of expertise include the following: heart transplant, heart failure, and heart valve disease. Her professional affiliations include Sutter Medical Network and Palo Alto Foundation Medical Group. She attended Stanford University School of Medicine and then went on to complete her residency at Stanford University Medical Center. Her patients gave her an average rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars. She accepts Health Net ELECT POS, United Healthcare Plans, and United Healthcare EPO, as well as other insurance carriers. Dr. Dibiase has an open panel.

Dr. Roger Winkle's specialties are adult cardiology and cardiac electrophysiology (heart rhythm). He practices in East Palo Alto, CA and Redwood City, CA. Dr. Winkle has a special interest in heart problems and electrophysiological (EP) study. His average rating from his patients is 4.5 stars out of 5. Health Net ELECT POS, United Healthcare Plans, and United Healthcare EPO are among the insurance carriers that Dr. Winkle accepts. Before completing his residency at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, Dr. Winkle attended medical school at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. His hospital/clinic affiliations include Sutter Medical Network and Palo Alto Foundation Medical Group. He has an open panel.

Dr. Anthony Sturzu is an adult cardiology specialist in Palo Alto, CA, Santa Cruz, CA, and Stanford, CA. Areas of expertise for Dr. Sturzu include heart problems. Dr. Sturzu honors Anthem, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, and TRICARE, as well as other insurance carriers. He attended Drexel University College of Medicine for medical school and subsequently trained at a hospital affiliated with the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) for residency. His hospital/clinic affiliations include Sutter Medical Network, Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH), and VA Palo Alto Health Care System (VAPAHCS). Dr. Sturzu has an open panel.

Dr. Donald St. Claire works as a cardiologist and interventional cardiologist in East Palo Alto, CA and Redwood City, CA. Areas of particular interest for Dr. St. Claire include heart problems and cardiac catheterization. He takes Anthem, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, and TRICARE, in addition to other insurance carriers. Dr. St. Claire graduated from MCP Hahnemann School of Medicine. Dr. St. Claire trained at Stanford University Medical Center for his residency. He is professionally affiliated with Sutter Medical Network and Palo Alto Foundation Medical Group. He is open to new patients.

Dr. Ian Rogers is a specialist in adult cardiology. Areas of particular interest for Dr. Rogers include congenital heart disease and cardiac imaging. Dr. Rogers's professional affiliations include VA Palo Alto Health Care System (VAPAHCS) and Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Stanford. He is an in-network provider for Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Valley Health Plan, and Blue Shield, in addition to other insurance carriers. Unfortunately, he is not accepting new patients at this time. He is a graduate of the University of Connecticut School of Medicine and a graduate of Boston Medical Center's residency program.

Dr. Cheena Ramrakhiani works as a cardiologist in Palo Alto, CA. Dr. Ramrakhiani has received a 4.5 out of 5 star rating by her patients. Her areas of expertise include heart problems. Her professional affiliations include Sutter Medical Network and Palo Alto Foundation Medical Group. Dr. Ramrakhiani honors Health Net ELECT POS, United Healthcare Plans, and United Healthcare EPO, in addition to other insurance carriers. Her practice is open to new patients. After attending SMS Medical College, Jaipur for medical school, she completed her residency training at a hospital affiliated with St. Louis University (SLU). In addition to English, Dr. Ramrakhiani (or staff) speaks Hindi.

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What is an Echocardiogram?

An echocardiogram (or “echo” for short) is an imaging test that uses ultrasound to take real-time pictures of the beating heart. Ultrasound is a very safe and painless way of using high-frequency sound echoes to make pictures of what is inside the body. An echocardiogram can check the size, thickness, and movement of the heart muscle. It can show how blood is flowing within the heart and whether the valves in the heart are working properly. It is sometimes used to check for heart defects or blood clots. It can show fluid building up around the heart or can be used to measure how much blood the heart is pumping with each beat.

The procedure for an echocardiogram is very simple. You will go into a room in a hospital or clinic, remove your shirt, and lay down on a table. If you are also having an EKG (electrocardiogram), small sticky pads with wires will be applied to your chest area. An EKG measures the electric activity of your heart to go along with the ultrasound (echo) information. A clear gel is applied to the skin of your chest to remove any air bubbles between your skin and the machine that provides the ultrasound. Then, a technician moves an ultrasound transducer wand over your chest to gather the image of your heart. It normally takes 15 - 30 minutes and is painless.